TIGER SLAYER BY ORDER 



the regiment I had been attached to before joining the 

 police, and who was now on the staff. I stayed with him 

 three days, which I took advantage of to replenish my 

 stores. 



We then took passage in a wretched little steamer to 

 Berbera, which we reached on the third day, heartily glad 

 to escape from that awful ship, with its vile food, black 

 beetles, and noisy natives. The town of Berbera — if I may 

 so term it — was composed of a few Arab rubble buildings, 

 a fort and a large number of permanent Somali huts made 

 of matting and poles. 



Some three-quarters of a mile to the west is the new, 

 official town — originally built by the Egyptians — the 

 houses being of rubble and masonry, one storied, with flat 

 roofs, not unlike those found in Sind. There is a good pier 

 as well as a good lighthouse, also built by the Egyptians 

 before we took over the north Somali coast from them, and 

 an excellent harbour, affording adequate protection for 

 large steamers. At a distance of about twenty-four miles 

 east and west of Berbera the Maritime Range comes down 

 to within a mile or two of the sea. 



I remained in Berbera a week, getting together a 

 caravan or " Kafila," with the assistance of the Political 

 Agent, a very kind individual, whose temper I fear I much 

 tried, but who very kindly put me up. I was also much 

 assisted by an Arab merchant of the place by name 

 Mahomed Hindi, a very decent fellow. 



I purchased thirty baggage camels and engaged the 

 same number of natives — drawn from the different tribes — 

 as an escort, whom I armed with the Snider rifles so gener- 

 ously lent me by the Bombay Government. 



I also purchased supplies of provisions — such as rice, 

 dates, Ghee,* also cooking utensils, saddle equipment for 

 the camels, cloth and beads as presents to the chiefs of the 

 countries we were to pass through, axes for making zarebas, 

 rope, etc., etc. 



Besides these essentials, there were a number of other 

 things to be thought of, for in the interior of Somaliland 

 there were no permanent villages, the Karias being usually 



* Clarified butter. 

 164 



